Jerusalem, Israel, November 10, 2013 – This week’s Limmud FSU Jerusalem Festival will mark the 90th birthday of the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, as well as celebrate 100 years since the late Prime Minster of Israel Menachem Begin was born. Coinciding with the festival, two remarkable photo exhibitions that follow the lives and contributions to the State of Israel by these two leaders will be displayed. Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat and Limmud FSU International Steering Committee Chairman Matthew Bronfman, accompanied by members of the Peres and Begin families, will gather together to officially open the exhibitions on November 13th, at 12pm at the First Station Compound in David Remez Square in Jerusalem.

“From Vilna Street, Vishneyeva to President’s Street, Jerusalem,” curated by Yoram Dori, will showcase the life work of President Shimon Peres in celebration of his 90th birthday, and “Milestones – From Brest-Litovsk to the Prime Minister’s Office” is an exhibition commemorating 100 years from the birth of Menachem Begin that uses photos to tell the story of this significant period in his life as the commander of the Irgun, the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel, and a Nobel Laureate.

Both exhibitions were initially displayed last May in Peres’ and Begin’s hometowns in Belarus as part of Limmud FSU Belarus Festival 2013 and will now be shown for two weeks in Jerusalem. Additionally, official stamps issued by the Government of Belarus bearing both leaders images – along with former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, former president Chaim Weizmann and former president Zalman Shazar, all of whom were born in the country – will be unveiled at the event.

The exhibitions, which are open to the public and free of charge, will be displayed at the First Station Compound beginning November 12th as part of the Limmud FSU Jerusalem Festival, which will be taking place this week.

The events of Limmud FSU Jerusalem Festival, in cooperation with the Jerusalem Municipality and the Begin Heritage Center, will take place across Jerusalem between November 12th-16th. More than 800 Russian-speaking Jewish leaders from across the world are expected to participate.